The Hindu Editorial (Concrete fever) – May 30, 2026

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The Hindu Editorial (Concrete fever) – May 30, 2026:

concrete fever (noun) – a state of crisis or extremely high temperatures in urban areas caused primarily by the widespread use of heat-absorbing concrete; concrete-induced warming.
heat management (noun) – the systemic approaches and strategies designed to mitigate, adapt to, and handle extreme temperatures in populated areas; temperature control, thermal regulation, heat mitigation.
mandate (verb) – to give an official instruction, command, or order to do something; make mandatory, require, order, direct.
green cover (noun) – the natural or planted vegetation, including trees, shrubs, and grasses, in a particular area; vegetation, foliage, tree canopy, flora.
reflective (adjective) – providing a surface that bounces back light, heat, or radiation; shining, glaring, radiating.
touch (verb) – to reach a particular level or amount; reach, attain, rise to, hit.
hottest (adjective) – having the highest degree of heat or temperature; boiling, scorching, blistering, sweltering.
so far (phrase) – until now; up to this point, up to the present.
scorching (adjective) – very hot; boiling, blistering, blazing, roasting.
summer heat (noun) – the intense high temperatures typically experienced during the summer season; hotness, thermal stress, swelter.
run-up (noun) – the period of time leading up to an important event; prelude, lead-up, preliminary.
informal sector (noun) – the part of an economy that is neither taxed nor monitored by any form of government; unorganized sector, grey economy, informal economy.
under the sun (phrase) – outdoors in the direct sunlight, exposed to the heat of the sun; in broad daylight, out in the open.
unprotected (adjective) – lacking protection or defense against harm, danger, or extreme conditions; vulnerable, exposed, defenseless, unsafe.
environment (noun) – surroundings, habitat, atmosphere, setting.
climate change (noun) – a long-term alteration in the temperature and typical weather patterns in a place; global warming, greenhouse effect.
inextricably (adverb) – in a manner that is impossible to disentangle or separate; inseparably, indivisibly, essentially.
heatwave (noun) – a period of unusually hot weather, typically lasting two or more days; hot spell.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) (organization) – an agency under the Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Government of India which is responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasting, and seismology.
frequency (noun) – the rate at which something occurs over a particular period of time; rate of occurrence, prevalence, commonness, incidence.
spell (noun) – period, time, stretch, phase.
decade (noun) – a period of ten years.
Core Heatwave Zone (CHZ) (zone) – a geographical area designated by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), stretching across central, northern, and peninsular India, which is highly prone to severe and frequent heatwaves annually.
coastal region (noun) – an area of land located near a sea or ocean; coastline, seaside, shore.
according to (phrase) – as stated by, as reported by; in accordance with, on the authority of.
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) (organization) – a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for promoting international cooperation on atmospheric science, climatology, hydrology, and geophysics.
warmest (adjective) – having the highest temperature compared to others in a record or group; hottest, most scorching, most blistering.
stretch (noun) – a continuous period of time; spell, period, duration, phase.
emission (noun) – the production and discharge of something, especially gas or radiation, into the atmosphere; discharge, release, outpouring, outflux.
proximate (adjective) – closest in relationship, immediate; nearest, close, primary, direct.
villain (noun) – culprit, cause, offender, troublemaker.
uniquely (adverb) – exceptionally, distinctively, exclusively.
lethal (adjective) – fatal, deadly, mortal, life-threatening.
urban heat island (noun) – an urban area that experiences significantly higher temperatures than its surrounding rural areas due to human activities and dense buildings.
difference (noun) – distinction, variation, contrast, divergence.
manufacture (verb) – to produce or create something artificially; produce, create, generate, make.
concrete (noun) – cement, mortar.
asphalt (noun) – bitumen, blacktop, tarmac.
butchering (noun) – the act of indiscriminately cutting down or destroying; massacre, slaughter, decimation, ruining.
waste heat (noun) – the heat generated by human activities, machines, or industrial processes that is released into the environment without being utilized; residual heat, exhaust heat, unutilized heat.
exhale (verb) – to give off or discharge (vapor, heat, or smoke); release, emit, let out, discharge.
humidity (noun) – the amount of water vapour in the air; dampness, moisture, clamminess.
percentage point (noun) – the difference between two percentages; a unit of measure used to express the arithmetic difference of two percentages.
percentage point (noun) – the difference between two percentages is termed as percentage point. (for example: “Interest Rates Jump From 10% to 12%”. In this case, the interest rate increased by “2 percentage points” or you can say that the interest rate is increased by 20%).
have a lot to do with (phrase) – to be closely connected or related to something; be associated with, be linked to, have a bearing on, pertain to.
increasingly (adverb) – to an increasing extent; more and more, progressively, continuously.
sealed (adjective) – closed securely to prevent the passage of air or water, often referring to concreted surfaces lacking natural absorption; enclosed, impermeable, airtight.
global warming (noun) – an increase in the temperature of the earth’s atmosphere; climate change.
seduction (noun) – something that tempts or attracts strongly; temptation, attraction, lure, draw.
technological fix (noun) – an innovation or machine-based solution aimed at solving a problem that may have deeper social or environmental causes; quick fix, technical solution, engineered remedy.
instinct (noun) – an innate, typically fixed pattern of behaviour or natural tendency in response to certain stimuli; urge, impulse, intuition, inclination.
reach for (phrasal verb) – grasp at, aim for, go for, resort to.
shield (verb) – protect, guard, defend, keep safe.
privileged (adjective) – having special rights, advantages, or immunities; wealthy, affluent, favoured, elite.
at the expense of (phrase) – at the cost of, at the sacrifice of, at the loss of, to the detriment of.
paradoxically (adverb) – in a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory way; surprisingly, ironically, unexpectedly, incongruously.
thermodynamic (adjective) – relating to the physics of heat and its relation to other forms of energy; thermal, heat-related, energy-related.
sense (noun) – a way in which an expression or a situation can be interpreted; meaning, understanding, interpretation, perspective.
fuel (verb) – stimulate, boost, intensify, aggravate.
call for (phrasal verb) – to require or demand a particular action; demand, require, necessitate, ask for.
instead (adverb) – as an alternative or substitute; alternatively, as a replacement, rather, in place of.
unglamorous (adjective) – not attractive or exciting; dull, ordinary, mundane, plain.
urban design (noun) – city planning, town planning.
building code (noun) – a set of rules that specify the standards for constructed objects such as buildings and nonbuilding structures; construction standard, architectural regulation, building regulation.
calibrate (verb) – to carefully assess, adjust, or tailor something to a particular situation or standard; adjust, tailor, modify, attune.
shift (verb) – change, alter, adjust.
most urgently (phrase) – critically, pressing, desperately, crucially.
enforcement (noun) – the act of compelling observance of or compliance with a law, rule, or obligation; imposition, implementation, execution, application.
labour law (noun) – a body of rules regulating the relations between employers and employees; employment law, worker protection law, workplace regulation.
honour (verb) – to fulfill an obligation or keep an agreement; observe, follow, obey, abide by.
largely (adverb) – to a great extent; mostly, mainly, primarily, predominantly.
in the breach (phrase) – frequently ignored, violated, or broken rather than obeyed (from the idiom “more honoured in the breach than in the observance”); disregarded, violated, neglected, overlooked.
more honoured in the breach than in the observance (phrase) – used to describe a rule, law, or custom that is more often broken or ignored than it is followed or obeyed; frequently violated, widely ignored, routinely broken, commonly disregarded. (Originating from William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet to describe a bad custom that is more honourable to break than to follow – its true meaning)
heat index (noun) – a measure indicating the level of discomfort the average person is thought to experience as a result of the combined effects of the temperature and humidity of the air.
cross (verb) – exceed, surpass, breach, transcend.
threshold (noun) – the level or point at which something starts to happen or change; limit, boundary, starting point, brink.
human physiology (noun) – the mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions of humans, specifically referring to the body’s biological ability to cope with extremes; bodily function, biological makeup, physical endurance.
absorb (verb) – to take in or endure a shock, heat, or impact; withstand, handle, bear, take in.
yet (adverb) – up until the present or a specified or implied time; thus far, so far, until now.
serious (adjective) – significant, thoughtful.
national conversation (noun) – a widespread discussion, debate, or exchange of ideas involving the general public, experts, and policymakers across an entire country regarding an issue of significant importance; nationwide discussion, public discourse, national debate, societal dialogue.
head for (phrasal verb) – to move towards or be directed towards a particular situation or outcome; move towards, go towards, point towards, aim for.